The White House made a statement on Simpson's "310 million tits" tirade, following Simpson's apology to one of the 310 million people concerned.
The apology came as some liberal groups and members of Congress who oppose any changes to Social Security benefits called on Mr. Obama to fire Mr. Simpson, a former senator from Wyoming long known for his irreverent and often biting remarks.
But at the White House, Jennifer Psaki, the deputy communications director, said, “Alan Simpson has apologized and while we regret and do not condone his comments, we accept his apology and he will continue to serve.”
The White House might accept that apology, but it's not good enough for the members of Congress and myriad of advocacy groups who are calling for Simpson to be gone.
Those groups include the AARP, which blasted Simpson and called the credibility of the entire commission into question because of his statements, though they didn't take the step of calling for his resignation. However, one of the leading organizations fighting for the preservation of Social Security, Social Security Works, did in this statement from co-director Eric Kingson:
“Alan Simpson’s comments are offensive and sexist and clearly demonstrate that he is unfit to continue to lead the President’s Fiscal Commission. His comments not only show his true view of women and older Americans but also his disdain for the very program he claims he is trying to protect – Social Security. Social Security Works is demanding that he resign immediately. If he will not, the President must fire him....”
Of course, it wasn't just seniors and advocates for Social Security that Simpson insulted. Immediately following the verification of that e-mail, Susan Scanlan, chair of the National Council of Women's Organizations (representing over 200 women's groups), fired off a letter to President Obama calling for Simpson's removal.
The National Organization of Women likewise called for his removal.
Alan Simpson is not fit to lead the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. The ugliness of his disrespect for women is matched only by his dogged determination to dismantle Social Security by cutting benefits or increasing the retirement age. The National Organization for Women urges President Obama to take a stand on this issue and replace Simpson immediately....
A "cow with 310 million tits"? For those who believe Social Security belongs to the workers who earned it, not to the government and certainly not to the Fiscal Commission, NOW announces its "Tits for an Ass" campaign. NOW will be asking our 500,000 members and supporters to use our website or Twitter account to help us buy baby bottle nipples, which we'll hand deliver to the White House with a letter urging President Obama to fire Alan Simpson. And while he's at it, the president should replace Simpson with a leader who will actually try to address the federal budget deficit, instead of using it as a subterfuge to cut Social Security benefits.
As far as his apology goes, the White House might be satisfied, but NOW isn't, telling HuffPo their call for his resignation stands.
More significantly, in that same post the recipient of the apology says it's not good enough for her. "Carson told HuffPost she was appreciative of the apology but that his comments demonstrate that he is unfit to lead the commission."
